When Money Was Tight: Old-fashioned Meals That Fed Whole Families & Niche Cooking Book

When paydays were far apart and the pantry looked thin, families still found a way to sit down to hot, honest food. When Money Was Tight: Old-Fashioned Meals That Fed Whole Families is a warm, practical collection of 60 budget-friendly recipes that feel like they came straight out of Grandma’s worn recipe box—only tested and written for busy modern cooks.Inside, Ruth Mohr walks you through ten down-to-earth chapters: hearty breakfasts that keep you going, breads and biscuits that stretch every meal, potato and bean suppers that actually fill people up, soups and stews built from scraps, simple Sunday “company” plates, and true end-of-the-month meals when all you have left is bread, drippings, and hope. Every recipe uses pantry ingredients, clear instructions, and gentle notes on how to swap, stretch, and substitute when you’re working with whatever you’ve got.In this book, you’ll find:60 humble, filling recipes that rely on potatoes, beans, rice, bread, and a little meat (when you have it).Comfort classics reimagined for tight budgets: oat-stretched meatloaf, cabbage-and-noodles supper, onion-and-bread broth bowls, peanut-butter noodles, Sunday pot roast that starts with the “cheap roast,” and more.End-of-the-month lifesavers like fried bread with pan gravy, leftover potato cakes, bottom-of-the-bag fried rice, biscuits-and-milk bowls, and sugar-crisp bread pan pudding.Practical tips from a frugal kitchen on saving drippings, using every crumb of bread, storing leftovers safely, and swapping ingredients without ruining dinner.Straightforward measurements in both cups/spoons and grams/milliliters, so you can cook the way you’re used to.If you’re feeding a family on a small paycheck, stocking an emergency pantry, or just drawn to the honest flavors of Depression-era and farmhouse cooking, this book will earn its spot by your stove.Love making the most of what you have? Pair this book with Mason Jar Meals: Long-Lasting Pantry Meals Layered for Flavor and Shelf Life, Upper Peninsula Pasties: 75 Authentic & Modern Pasty Recipes from Michigan’s Heartland, Soups in a Jar: Cozy Meals for Every Season, Homemade Seasoning Blends: 60 Flavor-Packed Recipes for Spices, Rubs, and Mixes to Elevate Your Cooking – Perfect for Meats, and 100 Rotisserie Chicken Recipes: Quick Dinners, Smart Shortcuts, Big Flavor for a full shelf of practical, budget-minded cooking.Pull up a chair, open the pantry, and let Ruth show you how to turn “not much” into supper—night after night.